"No freaking way!" Nick replied. "Was Demyx really that much of a coward?"
"Got that right," Sora replied. "He acted all silly when he was fighting us, relying on his stupid clones to do his dirty work!"
"What an idiot, huh?" Irma added.
Back at Irma's house, Sora was sharing stories with the Guardians about his past confrontations with other members of Organization XIII.
"Now that there's only 5 members left, I have a feeling that between getting rid of them and taking care of this Nerissa character, we're going to have a tough time even relaxing," Sora stated.
"Things have been quiet lately ever since Nick pasted that Luxord guy," Irma replied.
"I say we take advantage of this lull in their movement and do something fun while we have the chance!" Taranee mentioned.
"Like what?" Donald asked.
In a different part of town, we can see a girl of about 15, with shoulder-length red hair and a pink outfit wandering down Main Street, only one question running through her head...
Sora... I know you're here somewhere...
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Somewhere in a mysterious dark realm that seemed to look a lot like the Destiny Islands, Nerissa was conversing with yet another member of Organization XIII.
"That was pure genius!" Nerissa exclaimed. "Sending down the Twilight Thorn and disguising it as that Keyblader's little girlfriend was pure genius!"
"I made sure that our little spy knows exactly how to act around Sora. He is a nuisance that must be contained," the hooded man said. "That way, while the kids are distracted, you can take your army of Heart Stealers and conquer the Meridian Plains."
"Yes! With your monsters and my Dark Keyblade, we shall rule this puny world!" Nerissa exclaimed, laughing maniacally.
"Indeed," the hooded man replied.
"Say, if we're to rule this world together, I should at least know your name," Nerissa asked the man.
"With pleasure," the hooded man replied.
"My name is Xemnas, leader of Organization XIII."
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As Sora chatted away with his new friends, he began to feel like these were people he could trust, people he could count on.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Nick said, standing up and walking to the door. When he opened it, he spotted a 15-year-old girl with a pink outfit and shoulder-length red hair...
...no way!
"Sora? I think you need to see this," Nick shouted to Sora, who promptly raced to the door, stopping in his tracks when he saw the girl standing in the doorway.
"Kairi?"
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(Illusions of the heart can be deceiving. They prey on the hearts of those who cannot discern the light from the darkness. Does this mean they can feel anything at all?)
S.P.D. Gold Ranger presents:
W.I.T.C.H. in: "K is for Keyblade"
Genre: Romance/Action/Adventure
Rating: T for some violence, 'moments' and a bit of harsh language
Summary: Nerissa, the Guardian's new enemy, has found and unearthed an ancient evil force, one that consumed Nick's old friend. What wicked plans does Nerissa have for the Dark Keyblade? Can the Guardians stop her and save their home from the darkness? Features Nick, my original character.
Today: After a few days, things seem to be quieting down, until Nerissa and the Knights of Vengeance wage a full-out attack on the Meridian Plains. Can Nick, Sora, and their friends stop this invasion before it's too late?
W.I.T.C.H. is copyright SIP Animation and JETIX. Kingdom Hearts is copyright Disney, Square Enix, and Buena Vista Games. This story is copyright S.P.D. Gold Ranger, July 2006. This takes place during the animated series, even though the Knights of Vengeance I'm using for this story are from the comics.
Today, we are introduced to Nerissa's Heart Stealers, which are a sort of cross between the Heartless and Nobodies. Like the Heartless, their instinctive purpose is to steal living hearts, but they can think and plan towards their goals, like the Nobodies. There are many types of Heart Stealers, but today we'll be seeing the Summer Knights and Thruster Drones.
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Chapter 5: "N is for Nerissa"
"Kairi!" Sora exclaimed, rushing up and throwing his arms around his long-lost friend.
"Sora!" the girl promptly responded, returning Sora's embrace.
"Where have you been?" Sora asked.
"Trying to find you. What do you think I've been doing, you nut?" Kairi responded with a giggle.
Back in the living room, a mysterious pink glow began emanating from the Heart of Candracar. Will looked into the crystal pendant and noticed a picture of Kairi, Sora's almost-girlfriend. "Why is the Heart alerting me about this girl's presence? I KNOW she's not evil..."
Later on, Nick and Sora were showing 'Kairi' around Heatherfield, unknowing that the disguised girl was planning to lead the two into a trap.
"There's the Heatherfield Radio Tower," Nick said, pointing to the building where he had fought Xaldin. "Tallest building in the city."
"Wow," Kairi responded. "It's even taller than some of the buildings back home!"
Back at Irma's house, everyone still present gasped in shock at Will's recent discovery.
"We'd better find those two before it's too late!" Will shouted, and with that, she held up the Heart of Candracar. "Guardians, unite!"
After a while, Nick and Sora's travels had led them and Kairi to the beach, which was thankfully empty. Okay, now I'll expose that faker, Nick thought.
"It's beautiful here," Kairi said, looking around the vast beach, unknowing that Nick had silently materialized Oathkeeper behind his back.
"Believe it or not, we actually fought this gigantic monster on this very beach one time," Sora said to Kairi.
"Really?" Kairi responded. "It must have been one heck of a battle."
"Like you wouldn't believe," Nick replied. Any minute now, faker, you're going to slip up, and then, you're toast.
As they continued walking down the beach, the girls, along with Donald and Goofy, were flying towards said beach. "Nick... be careful..." Irma said to herself.
"There was sand flying everywhere," Sora said, recounting the battle against Darkside, the very Heartless that started his whole quest.
"Reminds me of something..." Kairi said, thinking. "Reminds me of that Roxas kid who almost... oops..."
"Got you..." Nick said, bringing out Oathkeeper and holding it toward 'Kairi'. "...faker!" A beam of light shot from the tip and struck Kairi, lifting her into the air.
"I was waiting for you to slip up, you little traitor," Nick stated.
"How'd you know?" 'Kairi' asked as she was enveloped in a cocoon of light.
"I'm not stupid," Nick responded. "I knew who you really were the whole time. You should know better than to underestimate the Keyblade's chosen one."
With that, what used to be Kairi vanished completely, and in its place stood the gigantic Nobody known as the Twilight Thorn. The beach completely dissolved and transformed itself into a high-rise building at the Station of Awakening.
Saying nothing (as if it could), the Twilight Thorn raised its giant hand and trapped Nick in energy shackles, lifting him high into the air.
"Let me go, you non-existent freak!" Nick exclaimed, struggling to break free of his bindings, but to no avail.
After a few seconds, it looked straight at Nick, drawing back its gigantic arm to punch the boy.
Nick, however, was able to react, jumping over the punch as best he could and striking the Twilight Thorn straight in the head, knocking it far back.
However, it soon came back for more, grabbing the boy and tossing him into the air. Nick quickly reacted by once again aiming a powerful attack for the head, which seemed to be its only vulnerable point.
After that attack, the Twilight Thorn sunk under the platform, tipping it completely upside down. Nick tried holding on by slamming his Keyblades into the floor, but to no avail. As he fell, he saw the Twilight Thorn gathering a huge energy ball. Seeing his chance, Nick thrust the Oathkeeper towards the giant sphere, dispersing the energy and stunning the Twilight Thorn. As they landed on another glass floor, Nick ran up to the head and began attacking for all he was worth, ending in a spectacular finishing move that literally drove the dual Keyblades into the head of the Twilight Thorn. Once it disappeared, Nick had returned to the beach, where Sora was staring in wonder.
Suddenly, the Guardians flew up, looking extremely flustered. "Nick! Sora! We've got BIG trouble!" Irma exclaimed.
"I already took care of that stupid Nobody," Nick replied.
"That's not why we're in big trouble," Will responded. "I just found out from Elyon that Nerissa sent the Twilight Thorn to distract us! Nerissa's launching a massive attack on the palace!"
"WHAT?" Nick exclaimed. "We'd better move, then!"
Saying nothing, Nick did a 360 and struck with the Oathkeeper, opening a portal to Meridian. "Let's go, everybody!"
With that, everyone entered the portal.
Once in Meridian, everyone present could only stare on in wonder. Will wasn't kidding; there were enemies everywhere!
Nick noticed a huge swarm of Heartless storming the Infinite City, a large sea of Nobodies attacking Torus Filney, and a massive army of mysterious creatures swarming the Meridian Plains. He could just barely see the Knights of Vengeance charging for the Underwater Mines.
"This is awful!" Cornelia exclaimed.
"We'd better split up if we're going to have any chance of keeping these freaks in check!" Nick responded. "Will, Irma, Hay Lin, you keep tabs on the Infinite City! Taranee, Cornelia, you two go with Sora and make sure those Nobodies don't destroy Torus Filney! Donald, Goofy, go help the prisoners in the Underwater Mines!"
"What about you, Nick?" Irma asked.
"I'm off to Meridian Plains," Nick replied. "Nerissa and I have a little score to settle."
With that, everyone set off to contain the threat that was planning to tear Meridian apart.
Upon reaching the Meridian Plains, Nick noticed Nerissa and yet another black-hooded man standing atop a pillar that seemed to be holding back the mysterious creatures he'd seen.
"Nerissa!" Nick shouted, brandishing Oathkeeper and Fatal Crest. "I'm tired of playing your little games! This ends NOW!"
"Oh, really, boy?" Nerissa responded with a cruel, bitter laugh. "I don't think my Heart Stealers would agree to that."
Nick stole a quick glance at the army of creatures that Nerissa called "Heart Stealers". Many of them looked like the Armored Knight Heartless, while others looked like a bird with a drill-shaped body and sharp wings.
"You stand no chance against such an army," the hooded man said.
"I've dealt with larger things than this," Nick replied. "Right, Xemnas?"
The man pulled the hood off of his head to reveal Xemnas, the leader of Organization XIII.
"So you know, then," Xemnas replied. "It won't do you any good."
"I've had enough of this!" Nick shouted. "I'm ending this right here, right now!"
With a mighty battle cry, Nick raised Oathkeeper and charged for the massive army.
Nerissa raised her hand, which began glowing with an eerie light. The rock face that was holding back the Heart Stealers quickly disappeared. "Heart Stealers, CHARGE!" Nerissa shouted, and with that, the massive army began trudging forward.
As Nick inched ever closer to the army, he began thinking.
He wasn't really sure if he could beat all of these creatures by himself. But, he told himself, if he believed he could, he could do it.
At least, that's what he had to believe...
...if he was going to save the world.
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Next time:
Chapter 6: "L is for Love"As Nick does battle with the massive Heart Stealer army, he reflects on Irma and the kiss they shared earlier. Can he survive the onslaught?
'Till next,
S.P.D. Gold Ranger